Our Weekend Pointer guest is Oluwatobi Joseph Ogunmusesan, a serving corps member in Delta State. He is the President of the Editorial/Publicity, Community Development Service (CDS) Group in Oshimili South Local Government Area.
Speaking to MIRACLE KALU, Oluwatobi reflects on the recent assault on a female corps member from Delta State serving in Anambra State, Jennifer Elohor. He shares his thoughts and offers practical advice to corps members on staying safe. He also spoke on his experiences in Delta State, describing the state as very safe and Deltans as amazingly hospitable. Happy Reading…
Tell us about yourself?
Good day, my name is Oluwatobi Joseph Ogunmusesan, and I’m a serving corps member with the NYSC in Delta State. I currently serve as the President of the Editorial/Publicity CDS group in Oshimili South Local Government Area and I am happy to be here for this interview.
What is the Editorial CDS all about?
For the editorial CDS, we are known as the board members of the NYSC. We take care of everything that has to do with publications. We also serve as the Public Relation Officers (PROs) of the NYSC peculiar to Delta State because we are in Delta State. We are involved in everything that has to do with the public image of the scheme. We properly represent our people. That is our job.
What was your first reaction to the assault on a corps member in Anambra State?
I was very displeased. It is an incident that should not happen to a corps member in this nation, especially coming from security operatives.
What role does the Editorial/Publicity CDS play regarding issues like this?
Our first assignment is to orient our fellow corps members on how to handle situations like this. We remind you that you are safe, secure, loved and respected. You are a person of prestige.
As a CDS body, we are the intermediaries between the public and corps members, that is, the scheme itself. To the corps members we are saying please, keep your heads high and to the public please, help us raise awareness to everyone in your community so that everyone can do better and we also can have ease in during our service year.
Did the news of the assault affect how safe you feel in your current place of primary assignment?
Definitely! It is a traumatic experience. Incidents like this leave you in shock. It makes you extra careful with your moves, with everything you do. Instead of serving with the whole of my heart, it feels like I’m walking on eggshells. I know now that I have to be extra careful.
Have you or your fellow corps members experienced similar intimidation or assault?
Specifically, we’ve had such an experience before from a national law enforcement agency (not in Delta State) but I will not mention the name of the agency. We were to attend an event where the First Lady of the nation was present but we were stopped even before we could enter. The officer stopped us and instructed us to dress in a way he felt was right but that was not how we were taught to appear on our uniform. He did this in a very rude manner. We just had to leave the event.
Would you say the incident has impacted your service year?
Due to the fact that we have been oriented in camp to prepare for harder days, I’ll say on a personal note that it didn’t shake me. I just counted it as one of the experiences of my service year.
How much trust do you have in the NYSC to protect corps members?
To the best of my knowledge, I know that the National Youth Service Corps is doing its best to ensure that corps members are safe. We all know that despite their efforts, some lapses that will happen could be as a result of an oversight, especially knowing that this incident is coming from a security agency. The solution should also be that this agency engages in proper orientation on how to handle situations like this especially when dealing with corps members.
Of recent, there were similar assault cases in the country. This incident further confirms that corps members are no longer regarded in the society as they used to be. How does this affect your prestige as a corps member?
This incident shows that proper orientation needs to be done in every law enforcement agency especially security agencies dealing corps members and NYSC as an institution, our members have to be respected. This is because, no matter how much prestige the institution has and no matter how much we carry ourselves as individual corps member, if the institution is not recognized as a prestigious one by others outside especially other governmental and non- governmental institutions, situations like this will continue.
What can be done to regain lost confidence?
My Prestige is intact. Nothing has been tampered with. On a national and state level, the NYSC should be given the prestige it deserves. Others will follow suit.
Do you think this incident is isolated or reflective of broader issues?
I do not think this incident differs from others. It is still very connected. I also think that host communities should come up with initiatives that are welcoming and favourable to corps members posted to serve in their locality.
What more would you like to see from NYSC leadership in terms of safety and justice?
In terms of safety and justice, I think issues like this should be properly handled. The culprits should be properly dealt with to send a message to others so that cases like this do not become rampant. If the culprits go unpunished, time and time again, you’re communicating to the public that one can do anything to corps members and go scot free. Due diligence should be done by the necessary government bodies to deal with these perpetrators.
What safety precautions do you and your fellow corps members now take?
For me, one major safety precaution is minding my business, not overstepping my boundaries and heeding to all the guidelines we were given at the orientation camp. It is also advisable to respect oneself and be at the right place at the right time.
What changes or reforms would you recommend to ensure this kind of incident does not repeat itself ?
Like I said earlier, I think the major change to be done is that there has to be constant and proper reorientation for everyone especially government agencies. I believe this will help in addressing issues relating to how corps members should be treated.
Can you tell us your experience in Delta State, your place of primary assignment, in terms of hospitality and safety?
Delta State has been amazingly hospitable; it has been a safe environment for corps members. Especially the remote areas, it is peaceful and calm. The people are very accommodating. The only issue will be the high cost of living especially for accommodation in its major cities like Asaba and Warri. Some corps members struggle with getting accommodation, particularly, those PPA could not provide accommodation. Aside this, Delta State Government has been very supportive to corps members. The law enforcement agencies respect corps members in Delta State. Their actions are very commendable. My stay has been a very wonderful experience, a promising one for that matter.
In relation to violence on corps members as against some other parts of the country, what is the situation in Delta State?
So far, we have not recorded any assault case on a corps member. We are enjoying Delta State.
How would you rate the efforts of the Federal Government so far?
The Federal Government of Nigeria has been amazing. They have kept to their word even to the extent of paying the arrears for the months delayed when the allowance ought to have been increased.
Would you support corps members having access to emergency helplines or legal awareness training?
Yes! These are very beautiful initiatives that are necessary for every Nigerian citizen in cases of emergency not just as corps members. Even here in Oshimili South Local Government Area, they have emergency helplines too. But then, bringing it to the scheme itself, we can always reach out to our NYSC Staff, the Local Government Inspectors, the Zonal Inspectors e.t.c.
Which general advice would you give to fellow corps members?
My esteemed corps members keep your heads high. Do not let incidents like this assault affect your esteem or scare you. We are serving our Motherland and we will do it with our strength and might. We should know that better days are ahead. We were trained for this and we will overcome.
As corps members, some of these experiences we face today put us in a better position to proffer solutions when we get to positions of authority tomorrow, so that those coming after us will not suffer the same things we suffered.
Let’s stay positive, let’s keep sharing love and let’s keep innovating.
As regards safety measures, let’s respect ourselves and also respect set boundaries.
